April 11, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — One day after earning her first collegiate individual victory at the Brickyard Collegiate, Morgan Baxendale won Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week honors Wednesday.
Baxendale earned the SEC recognition by posting a three-day total of three-under par 217 to capture the Brickyard Collegiate in Macon. Her tournament score was good for a two-stroke margin over the closest of 77 competitors.
Baxendale becomes the first Vanderbilt women’s golfer to be recognized for SEC weekly honors since Jennifer Hahn was named Player of the Week after sharing medalist honors at the 2015 UCF Challenge. Hahn starts her second LPGA event of the year Thursday in Hawaii.
Vanderbilt head coach Greg Allen praised Baxendale for her commitment to getting better.
“I’m really happy for Mo [Morgan], especially coming off her individual title and our team win in Macon,” Allen said. “She really had a fantastic tournament and was instrumental in helping our team earn that victory.
“Mo is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around, always working to improve her golf game and the mindset necessary to succeed at the collegiate level. All of that hard work now is paying dividends for her and our squad,” Allen added.
Baxendale, Green, Yu part of impressive youth movement
Baxendale is one of three impressive freshmen who helped the No. 24 Vanderbilt become one of the nation’s most improved squads. Baxendale and classmates Virginia Green and Louise Yu also form the majority of one of the youngest rosters in collegiate women’s golf.
From The First Academy in Orlando, Baxendale has been a consistent performer for the Commodores during the fall and spring campaigns. Participating in all eight of Vanderbilt’s team competitions, Baxendale ranks behind only sophomore Abbey Carlson with a 73.33 strokes per round average. She has three top-25 finishes on the season.
Baxendale was remarkably consistent in her medalist performance in Macon, making just one bogey over her final 33 holes of play, including none in a final round of one-under 71. She also posted a three-under 69 in the second round, which matched her previous low 18-hole score.
Baxendale and the Commodores return to action on April 18 for the SEC Championship in Birmingham. The tournament will feature 54 holes of stroke play, with the top eight teams advancing to match play competition.